Guide and holder fob



W. J. BOUSQUET.

GUIDE AND HOLDER FOR FLEXIBLE RULES.

APPLICATION FILED IUNEZS. 1917.

1 ,3 1 2,887. Patented Aug. 12,1919.

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W'ILLIAM JOHN BOUSQUET, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

GUIDE AND HOLDER FOR FLEXIBLE RULES.

Specification of Letters Tatent.

T Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application led June 29. 1917. Serial No. 177.837.

To all whom t may Concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. Bons- QUET, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and a resident of Springfield, in the county ofHampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Guides and Holders for Flexible Rules, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in rule guides and holders, andis especially designed to provide a simple device which may be quicklypositioned on a thin flexible rule, such as are commonly used bymachinists, tool makers, testers, and others, and which can be used as aguide for taking measurements with the rule, or can be used to hold therule, in a pocket of a vest, coat or other garment.

The invention is embodied in a one piece device which is formed with twoparallel inturned flanges adapted to embrace the opposing edge portionsof a thin flexible rule, and with a spring tongue formed of the materialbetween the flanges and functioning to hold the guide on the ruleagainst accidental movement or too free movement and also to hold therule on the pocket of the garment of the user of the device.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists incertain new and useful combinations, constructions, and arrangements ofparts, clearly described in the following specification and fullyillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a planview showing my improved device applied to a thin flexible rule, thedrawing being full size.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof, in full size.

Fig. 3 is an end view showing the relation of the ball of the springtongue to the flanges, whereby the movement of the spring tongue towardthe flanges is limited, so that the flexible rule may be insertedbetween the flanges and the tongue, without becoming wedged between thetongue and the main body portion of the device, taken on an enlargedscale.

Fig. 4 is a v iew in cross section showing a slightly modied form of thedevice, taken on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 5 is a simple view showing another modied form of the device.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a device equipped Y 6a so as to provide springtensionv on the free end 6b thereof, which is formed with dished vorball points 6C, adapted to permit of easy engagement with the garment orwith the rule. The device is provided on the forward endV thereof withan extension 5a which projects beyond the anges 7 and 8 formed on thesides of the device and inturned against the underside of the main bodyor central portion 5, and slightly spaced therefrom to admit theflexible rule between said flanges and said main body portion. Theianges 7 and 8 are also formed with rounded corner portions 9, whereby arelatively wide space is provided on the opposite end of the device, topermit of the easy insertion of the rule between the flanges and themain body portion, as will be readily understood.

As shown in Fig. 3 the opposing edge portions of the flanges 7 and 8project under the ball point or dished terminal of the spring tongue,thereby preventing further movement of said ball point or dishedterminal toward said flanges. The tip of said ball point 0r dishedterminal projects slightly above the surface of the main body portion orcentral wall 5 so that it will be normally spaced from the adjacent faceof said wall, whereby a garment may be wedged between the tongue andvthe wall, and the device, together with the rule inserted therein,clamped on the pocket of the garment of the user, and thereby preventloss of the rule.

The flanges may be formed with longitudinally inset portions 7 and 8',whereby increased frictional engagement of said flanges with the rulewill result, as shown in Fig. 4, or the device may be formed with springcoils 10 and 11 connecting said flanges to the main or central wall orportion 5, so that the flanges will exert spring tension on the rule.

The device is formed in one piece and when applied to a rule will notrender said rule clumsy or impair the use thereof. When the device isapplied to a rule the end a may be placed against the work to bemeasured and the rule shifted to.. get. the proper measurement.

In Fig. 6 I show a device whi-eh the spring tongue is provided with aball terminal 6d, for engagement with the garment.

By applying pressure by the thumb upon the spring` tongue the frietionalengagement of the device on the rule may be increased at will,y so astel hold the device in fixed indicating position.

Having described my invention I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent.:

A combined rule guide and holder consisting of a one-piece devicehaving' a central wall and parallel inset flanges slightly spaced fromsaid wall to slidably retain a thin flat rule therebetween, said flangeshaving longitudinal corrugated ribs for engagement with the rule and'said central wall having a spring tongue formeel thereon, said springtongue having a dished terminal poi'- tion movable between the opposingedges of the flanges but wider than the space between said flanges,whereby the flanges will prevent a wedging action of the tonguetherebetween and a rule can be inserted between said tongue and saidflanges without becoming wedged between the tongue and the central wall.

Signed by me at. Springeld, Massacliusetts.

WILLIAM JOHN BUSQUET.

Uopes of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. \7?aahingtcm, D. c.

